With over 85 years of combined legal experience, The Reiff Law Firm’s team of personal injury attorneys has handled litigation arising from almost every imaginable category of motor vehicle accidents. We have proven liability and damages in many head-on crashes and rear-end collisions, recovering millions for our clients in these cases. While past results do not guarantee future successes and the hurries in Pennsylvania are free to believe or disbelieve facts as they interpret them, we remain dedicated to pursuing all viable legal strategies and settlement options to obtain compensation for your severe, life-altering injuries or your loved one’s wrongful death.
If a recent head-on, rear-end, side-impact or other crash in the Philadelphia area or elsewhere in the state of Pennsylvania has left you seriously injured or grieving a death in your family, please contact us now. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, reduced future earnings and other compensation. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with an experienced The Reiff Law Firm attorney call (215) 709-6940 or contact us online today.
Issues in Rear End Accidents Involving 18-Wheelers and Trucks in Philadelphia
Commercial trucks are often extremely large vehicles. As such, these types of vehicles are typically less maneuverable and require greater distances to come to a stop. At 55mph, a large commercial truck can take 335 feet to come to a complete stop (60 foot reaction time, 225-foot braking distance) compared to just 225 feet for the average passenger car. At 65 mph, a semi-truck can take 525 feet to come to a stop (71 foot reaction time, 454-foot braking distance) compared to just 316 feet for a car at the same speed. Since these large vehicles take such a long time to come to a full and complete stop, the risk of the truck rear-ending a car is greater than experienced in other vehicles.
Furthermore, trucks are large vehicles that can often weigh up to 80,000 pounds and are elevated much higher than most passenger vehicles. This leads to two-risks for people in passenger vehicles. First, the amount of mass a commercial truck has makes it more likely that when an accident occurs, the injuries will be severe, life-threatening, or result in a death. Second, the height of trucks means that individuals in passenger vehicles can underride the truck. In extreme cases, decapitations of the driver of the car and passengers have occurred. While many trucks are equipped with underride guards, IIHS has found these underride guards to be ineffective in certain crash types and has urged the DOT and NHTSA to adopt more stringent standards such as the ones currently in effect in Canada.
In all motor vehicle accident cases, we stand ready to combat the “deny, delay, defend” tactics of insurance companies and large commercial motor carriers with solid evidence and our strategic approach to negotiation and trial strategies. We prepare a solid foundation for every matter we take on to show the true costs of the injuries inflicted by the commercial truck. We may show how these injuries have affected your daily life, the activities you have had to cease due to your injuries, the level of pain and suffering you experienced and many other aspects that can make the pain you have felt tangible for the other side.
Committed to Pursuing Compensation for Philadelphians in Rear End Accidents
It is difficult to imagine a more horrific experience than a head-on collision. Even at relatively low speeds, fatalities and catastrophic brain injuries (TBIs) are common. At highway speeds — when head-on crashes commonly result from drunk driving or an illegal passing maneuver — extremely serious injuries almost always result.
Although fault for a rear-end collision may appear obvious, recovering monetary compensation for severe injuries is still work for an experienced auto accident lawyer. Establishing the seriousness of head and neck injuries associated with whiplash, for example, may require carefully gathered medical evidence and expert testimony. In many cases, the driving behavior of those involved in a rear-end or head-on collision is not the only issue worthy of investigation. Our knowledge extends to:
- All types of automotive defects such as defective tires and airbags, gas tanks susceptible to explosion, and vehicle design shortfalls involving crashworthiness and rollover susceptibility.
- Problems with defective ignition switches in vehicles produced by General Motors (GM) and other companies.
- Injuries and deaths due to Takata airbags that deploy with too much force because of a defective inflator.
- Targeting monetary recoveries for victims of drunk driving crashes and accidents caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver
- Specific key issues in trucking accident cases
In all motor vehicle accident cases, we stand ready to combat the “deny, delay, defend” tactics of insurance companies with solid evidence and our skill of negotiating and trial strategies.
Our Attorneys Can Help if You Were Injured in a Rear End Collision in Philadelphia
If you have been involved in a serious head-on crash, rear-end collision or other type of car accident in Pennsylvania, please turn to us for an aggressive and strategic approach to your matter. Our law firm is proud to have been trusted by Philadelphians for decades. If you have suffered life-altering injuries in a rear-end collision with a car or a truck, the attorneys of The Reiff Law Firm can fight for you. Likewise, if a family member has been wrongfully killed in a rear-end or other collision, we may be able to fight for you. To schedule a free and confidential initial consultation call us at (215) 709-6940 or contact us online by using the web form at the top of the left sidebar.
